Agricultural implement



1949 R. A. CHRISTIE AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed Oct. 8, i945 Patented Nov. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AGRICULTURAL IMPLEIVIENT Reginald A. Christie, Aneaster Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada, assignor to International Harvester Company of Canada, Limited, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, a corporation of Ontario Application October 8 1945, Serial No. 621,042

1 Claim.

furrow wheel and at the rear by a transverse truck carrying a land wheel and a rear furrow I wheel. In such plows the tool-carrying frame is usually raised and lowered with respect to the.

supporting wheels by power derived from the land wheel and transmitted to the other wheels. Since I the plow frame is often large and heavy, it is imv portant that suitable provisions be made to cause the plow to follow the propelling vehicle upon' turning thereof. Where the front fu'rrowwheel has been steered the rear furrow wheel has often been allowed to caster freely, although due to the weight and size of these plows, the latter method has involved difficulties and steering has not been easy. When steering both front and rear wheels, the front wheel is generally connected to the rear verse bar fixed on the hitch, linkage steerably connecting one end of the bar to the front furrow wheel and linkage steerably connecting the other end of the bar to the rear furrow wheel, whereby lateral movement of the hitch is transmitted to both furrow wheels.

Other objects and advantages will become clear from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing showing in perspective a harrow plow embodying the features of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates generally a plow frame including a diagonally disposed plow beam 2, a supporting side bar '3, and a front bar I. Side bar 3 comprises a pair of laterally spaced straps 5 connected to the beam 2 near its rear end and a single strap 6 connected at one end to the front bar 4 and secured between the spaced straps 5 at its other end.

wheel by a rod extending above the frame and preferably connecting steering arms at the top of vertical spindles upon which the wheels are mounted and upon which the plow frame slides when raising and lowering the working tools. 7 Where seed or fertilizer dispensers were mounted on the frame, steering of the rear furrow wheel has not generally been practiced due to the difiiculty in by-passing the dispenser in transmitting steering motion from the front to the rear furrow wheel.

The present invention obviates the difficulties 7 previously encountered and the principal object thereof is to provide an improved steering mechanism for agricultural implements.

Another object is to provide in a plow of the disk or harrow type improved means for transmitting steering motion from a propelling vehicle to the front and rear wheels thereof to cause the plow to follow in the path of the vehicle by which it is drawn.

Another object is to provide in a trail-behind implement having front and rear furrow wheels novel means for transmitting steering motion direct to the front furrow wheel and to the rear.

furrow wheel simultaneously.

Another object is to provide in a plow of the 7 type described, having a laterally swingable hitch 1 for connection to a tractor or the like, a trans- Beam 2 supports a plurality of working tools in the form of disks 1 and at the forward end of the beam is secured a forwardly extending frame member in the form of a casting 8 to which is affixed a vertically extending sleeve member 9 having rotatably mounted therein the vertically extending portion of a spindle I0, the lower end of which is bent outwardly and has mounted thereupon a furrow wheel I I.

To the rear end of beam 2 is adjustably secured I a transversely extending truck generally indicated at I2 comprisinga beam I3 having mounted upon opposite ends thereof a rear furrow wheel I4 and a land wheel I5. Land wheel I5 is mounted upon the end of a crank-axle I6 having a transverse portion I'I pivotally mounted in the end of beam I3 for generally vertical swinging movement to raise and lower the plow frame. Actuation of the land wheel I5 to raise and lower the plow 1 frame is accomplished by the use of a half-revolution clutch shown at I8 which may be of a conventional type well known in the art and requirv ing nodetailed description here. It may be noted that the clutch reacts through a link I 9 against a brace 20 mounted upon a bar 2| secured to the end of the beam I3 to swing the crank-axle I6 about its pivot upon the beam.

The outer end of the transverse portion II of crank-axle I6 has mounted thereupon a lever arm 22 having its upper end bifurcated to receive a sleeve member 23 which is threaded to receive the threaded end of a rod 24 having a crank 25 at the other end thereof pivotally mounted in one arm 26 of a bell-crank 21 pivoted upona casting 28 mounted upon the end of beam I3 opposite the land wheel I5. Casting 28 is provided with a vertically extending sleeve portion 29 in which is rotatably mounted the vertically extending portion of a spindle 39, the lower end of which is bent outwardly in a manner similar to spindle ID and. has mounted thereupon the rear furrow wheel I4. 7

Spindle 3D'is vertically slidables in;the.sleeve' 29 to raise and lower the plow frame with respect to the furrow wheel [4 and is held in position with respect to the sleeve 29 by a link 3| secured at its upper end to the top of spindlfe3[[ and1 pivoted at its lower end to the other arm 32 of bell-crank 21. Vertical swinging movement of the land wheel l5 through. the. actuation. of-. clutch I8 to raise and lower: the. frame. is.thus, transmitted through bell-crank 21 to rear furrow wheel [4. The manner in which this movement is transmitted to the front furrow wheel H to raise and lower the frame with. respect. thereto forms no part ofthis invention, lifting being accomplished in a manner similar to. that described for. the rear-furrow wheell i. For-a: more, detailed disclosure ofthe. lifting'mechanism reference maybe had to co-pendingappli'cation SerialNo. 621,094 filed" OctoberS, 1945; now Pat:- ent Nb. 2469,5 79, dated May- 10,- 1949; Liftingof the rear furrow wheel I4 is assistedbya spring 33"- connected at one'-end to the-lower BDdOffIBVBI 22 projecting below the pivot I! and connected atitsother encPto aclamp'6'4 by-which the beam l3= adjustablysecured to thebeam 2.

At this point it' should-be clear that inanimpl'ement of the type shown and described, the

beam- 2 and the disks" 1 carried thereby extend in a directiondiagonal to the direction oftravelofthe plow; sothat' front furrow Wheel H is per-- mitted to-travel ina previously formed furrow while' the rear fur-row wheel 1 l4 is laterally spaced therefrom; a distance-equal to the width of 'cut of the working tool-s; and travel's in'thenew furrow made thereby. Land wheel I55 it will be noted, is likewise laterally spacedfrom I both thefurrow' wheels H and [4' and is adapted toride upon'the-unplowed ground.

Secured to the front bar 4 at one-end thereof and-projecting downwardly therefrom isa strap 35} thelower end of which is apertured at 36 toreeeivefor sliding movementtherein one end of a draft bar 31, the rear endofwhichis-con-- nected at 3il -to-the beam 2 meelia'lly of theends thereof; Theforwarden'dof draft bar 3'Fprojeots: through theopening 36 and haspivotally connected-- thereto a forwardly extending draftl member-1'3 which is braced againstlateral piv otal' movement by an adjustablebrace 40'; one end of which is pivotally connected to -the member 39' near the forward end thereof and the other end of--'whi"ch is secured to the casting: 8}

Likewise pivot'ally connected to the forward end of' hitclimember: 39 at 41 forlateral swingingmovement' ahitch" member 4?, the forward end'ofwhich is provided witha clevis; 43 forat tachment t'o attractive vehicle; such asa tractor orthelike:

Due to-the weight and structure ofan imple ment-"ofthis: t'ype,- it is: important that the sup porting wheels thereof follow in the-path of the tractor, or the like; particularly'wh'en turns are made in the field" beingworked. Itis therefore important thatthe furrow wheels l1 and I 4 be steered to-preventtheir scraping upon the groundi and theprobable injury tothe implement in cident" thereto. Therefore, mechanism is incorporatedin the-implement "of the present inventtion to insure proper guidance of the supporting;

wheels to cause them to follow in the path taken by the tractor or other vehicle. It is, of course, clear that upon turning the draft vehicle, as at the end of a field, force will be exerted upon the pivoted hitch member 42 to cause it to swing to one side, or the, other about. its. pivotat 4|, depending upon thee direction in which. the tractor is turning.

In order to transmit this turnin action to the furrow wheels H and I4 to steer the same in responseatoltuming of the tractor, the hitch member 42. has secured thereto medially of its ends acrosseba 4.4. One end of the bar 44 is pivotalht connected. by; an adjustable link 55 to a steering. arm 45; afiixed to the spindle I 0 adjacentw its; lower: end. Lateral swinging of the hitch 42 is thus transmitted through the link 45 steeringarm 46 to the front furrow wheel II to; turn? it in the proper direction for following in the path of the draft vehicle. In order to transmit this. turning power. likewise to.the. rear furrow. wheel' I14; the other. end of. CIOSSrbaI; 44 haspivotally. attached.theneto one end. of aconnect'ing rod; 431' which is; adjustable inlength. and. connectedat its; rear. end to. the depending pot-- ti'on of'a lever lil'pivotally secured at 451 between: the. straps. 5 on the-side bar 3.. The; endof. bar projecting upwardly. from. the. pivot. 49 has pivoted thereto. theforwardend of a. connecting rod15fl,.the.rear. end] of. which is connected to/a; steering. arm 5i secured to. the upper end. of. spindle 30 upon thel'ower. end of which. the rear. furrow. wheel: I.4.is.mounted.. Thus asimplc and. effective mechanismis-providedfor transmitting steering. motion through. the hitch. member. 42. simultaneously, to, the. front. and. rear. furrow. wheels=of the.implement.of thepresent invention. Likewisest'eering is transmitted from. the. lower. level. of. the. hitch. 42 to th steeringv arm.- 5|v located. at. the top. of the rear furrow wheel. spindle 3i]; while at the same. time avoicling interferencewith. the operating parts. of the; plow. Sufficient play is.p rovided in the connections of. therods. ML and withtheleven 48 and the. bar. 44, as,wel1 as the connections of the hitch 42.110. the, front furrow whee}; H to, permit. vertical movement of the plow framew-ith respect tolthe furrow-wheels.

Itr may, be. noted that. thev steering. mechanism. just, described is.- of special advantage when the. plow. is utilizedv with adispenser for seed or fertilizer,,or. the..like, such.as is indicated-in dotted lines, at. 52. in thedrawing, the dispenser box 52 generally: being of; alength, corresponding to the. length. of the. tool beam 2, and. extending longitudinally, thereof so thatseedor fertilizer" or the like, dispensed therefrom may be deposited. in the. ground at .a. locationadjacent the cutting disks; 1. Thesteering mechanism. and particu-. larly! the structureby which steering. is trans-- mitted to the rear; furrow wheel- 54 simultane ously; withturning ofthe. tractor and steering of front.v furrow wheel H wasdesigned to. providea more-:efficient, steeringmechanism than haspreviously been: devised for; plows, of this type. and to. avoid: interference with other operating. parts of the plow.

It: is? believed: that the: operation of the steer.- ing-structure of the plow of: the presentinvenetion has: been made clear by: the foregoing deescription. It should-likewise be understoodtthattthe invention has been described in: its prerf erred. embodiment and that. modifications" may bemade therein without; departing" from the? rotatable spindle extending through each said sleeve section and carrying a ground supporting wheel at the lower end thereof, adjustable means for moving the tool-supporting frame up and down on the spindles to raise and lower the tools, a steering arm at the lower end of the front wheel spindle, means steerably connecting said arm to one end of said transverse bar, a steering arm at the upper end of the rear wheel spindle, means steerably connecting the latter said arm to the other end of the transverse bar,

said latter connecting means including a vertica1 lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the tool-supporting frame, a link connecting the upper end of said lever to the steering arm on the rear wheel spindle, and linkage connecting the lower end of the lever to said transverse bar, whereby lateral swinging of the hitch means is transmitted to guide the said supporting wheels.

REGINALD A. CHRISTIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1 1,073,827 Waite Sept. 23, 1913 1,409,712 Hansmann Mar. 14, 1922 1,918,730 Willson July 18, 1933 2,378,635 Hyland June 19, 1945 

